9 weeks....

[hexyewdancer]

would it be safe to give him a dummy lick of yoghurt?

I spoke to my friend yesterday that has a baby 5 weeks older than Roman and she said she gave her LO dummy licks of stuff from 6 weeks. She's now weaning her at 14 weeks.

My HV is helping me to start weaning in 3 weeks time so what do you think? Im confused and curious. Dont want to harm him.

 

[sparkswillfly]

You shouldnt give dairy before 6 months

 

[Pyrrhic]

Can I ask why you want to start him at 9 weeks, and your HV is suggesting you wean at 12 weeks? Just curious if there is a medical reason.

 

[hexyewdancer]

Think the HV wants to start him because milk is doing nothing for him. He isnt settled with it although he's gaining weight really well. She just said the next visit will be in 3 weeks and she'll help me start on the weaning process. I havent a clue about it so didnt question her.

Im confused about it all. Ive got so many people telling me different things and i just dont know when to start anything. Older people are saying 6 months is too late and younger people are saying wait till 6 months. This is my first baby so dont really know when and how to do things.

 

[asacia]

Think the HV wants to start him because milk is doing nothing for him. He isnt settled with it although he's gaining weight really well. She just said the next visit will be in 3 weeks and she'll help me start on the weaning process. I havent a clue about it so didnt question her.

Im confused about it all. Ive got so many people telling me different things and i just dont know when to start anything. Older people are saying 6 months is too late and younger people are saying wait till 6 months. This is my first baby so dont really know when and how to do things.

There is a great article on solids here:
https://kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/delay-solids.html

It explains the benefits of delaying solids and has lots of links to more information and its sources. I'd have a read through, it might help you decide what is right for your LO.

You say milk isn't doing anything for him, can you explain a little more?

 

[Pyrrhic]

It's really difficult, isn't it Especially when it's your first baby! I was really confused when Niamh was about four months and stopped sleeping through and made lots of threads on here about weaning, and read a lot of websites.

If he's gaining weight well, and having plenty of wet and dirty nappies then thats brilliant! Most of the battle there

What do you mean when you say he won't settle?

 

[sparkswillfly]

If you unsure you should do your own research and maybe look into reasons why he isnt settled. I think it is unlikely that its because he needs solid food.

If you need more info i would be happy to point you in the right direction but I dont want to be accused of being an early weaning basher.

 

[sparkswillfly]

I really think that HVs arent doing us mums any favours! Its tough enough as it is without them giving us conflicting info and it seems to depend on which HV you get as to what info your given as well. They arent very well trained.

 

[Pyrrhic]

I really think that HVs arent doing us mums any favours! Its tough enough as it is without them giving us conflicting info and it seems to depend on which HV you get as to what info your given as well. They arent very well trained.

I told my friend I reckon HVs just make stuff up as they go along! Mine told me to BF, then stop Bfing, then not wean at 6 months, then to look at BLW, then to early wean.

I mean really. No wonder first time Mums are so confused!

 

[sparkswillfly]

where did they even come from anyway? have they been around long?

how are they trained? what qualifications do they actually have?

sorry hijacked the thread

 

[asacia]

where did they even come from anyway? have they been around long?

how are they trained? what qualifications do they actually have?

sorry hijacked the thread

"The Health Visitor is a Qualified Registered Nurse, Midwife, Sick Children’s Nurse or Psychiatric Nurse with Specialist qualifications in Community Health, which includes child health, health promotion and education."

I think Health Visitors do as best a job they can most of the time. It is the same with GPs - 'jack of all trades, master of none'. They have to give information and support about a huge range of topics, and they aren't experts in much. As weaning and breastfeeding are such important things, I wish there were another 'role' - a real specialist in those areas who can help Mums make the right choices.

 

[Pyrrhic]

where did they even come from anyway? have they been around long?

how are they trained? what qualifications do they actually have?

sorry hijacked the thread

They are nurses with at least 2 years experience who have undergone a training course to become HVs.

Thing is though, HVs don't just see babies. They see babies, children, elderly, etc.

 

[sparkswillfly]

I agree we should have specialists in baby feeding

 

[sparkswillfly]

If mothers choose to introduce foods before the age of 6 months, the following should be avoided:
* Wheat-based foods and foods containing gluten (bread, wheat flour, breakfast cereals and rusks)
* Cows' milk
* Nuts and seeds – including peanuts, peanut butter and other nut spread
* Eggs
* Fish, shellfish
* Citrus fruit and fruit juice such as orange, lemon and lime

No baby should be given food before 17 weeks really.

 

[hexyewdancer]

Well ive been really up the wall with his milk. I first had him on cow and gate and he was constipated with it. He also struggled to get wind up. So the HV told me to change it to the cow and gate easy digest and just see how he gets on. I changed him over but it made him worse. Because the milk was so thin it just wasnt filling him and he was taking 4oz every 2 hours. Then he came out in a rash and the HV said it looks like he's allergic to the milk and that i should take him to the doctors.
So i did and he said i should try aptimal because its the best milk out there. So now he's on that and although he's alot better he's still quite unsettled. He only poo's every few days but on the day he goes, he goes loads and because he's constipated he's really upset over it. Then come 6pm he screams the place down because he doesnt sleep through the day and is so tired. He takes a full 4oz bottle, sometimes even 5oz. He then falls asleep and then wakes every few hours just for another oz. I told the HV and she said the milk doesnt seem to be doing anything for him. Thats when she mentioned coming again in 3 weeks and introducing weaning.

I feel like a crap mum because i just dont know what to do or how to make it better for him. I thought the feeding part of motherhood would be the easiest but its so hard.

 

[sparkswillfly]

Thats a tough one it really is. Is there a possibility hes lactose intolerant? Maybe soy milk is the best way to go. See what your GP thinks about that. I know a lot of mums on here have lactose intolerant babies. There was a thread in the bnb groups section I think. Maybe speak to them and see if its similar to what they experienced.

 

[sparkswillfly]

and dont feel like a crap mum. Feeding is tough and its so much responsibility.

do you give him water for the constipation? maybe a couple of ozs a day might help that

 

[Brockie]

i think 9 weeks is too early really hon for tastes of food, its a hot topic weaning but if you can i would read up a little about the best ages to introduce foods x

not sure what to suggest about his milk feeds but if you feel your HV is not giving you the best advice then make an appt. with your GP, or do you have a drop in centre with another HV?

 

[Pyrrhic]

You're not a crap Mum hun, everyone needs to learn somehow and you're doing great with him.

I agree with Sam to try giving him some water. Niamh had awful constipation from some meds she had to take but water helped.

 

[helen1234]

your not a crap mum, Rhys grazes with milk he used to have a proper meltdown for 1 oz i wasted sooooo much milk with him he's just like that he likes little and often i'd try and hold out for a little longer it seems between the docs and hv they've had you switching milk, which might make things worse.

dont jump into weaning him too early and start replacing the milk he's having with food as that will bring on a load more problems as milk is the main source of food for the first yr, food is just to supplement milk.

just take each day and week as it comes. i weaned at about 5 months on request of hv because rhys was drinking less and less milk but my next baby i'll be wiser and trust my own instinct,
end of the day you know best

cc